Divisional Chiefs of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council (ENTC) have petitioned the Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to intervene in a brewing chieftaincy clash. The chiefs are concerned about the alleged irregular enstoolment of Egya Ackah, who is parading himself as the Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area under the stool name Awulae Blay.
Nana Kwamena Bentum II, Divisional Chief of Salma, warned that the situation could lead to a violent confrontation in the community if security agencies fail to act swiftly. “We want to use this occasion to let the world know that Awulae Amihere Kpanyile remains the President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, and nothing can change that,” he declared.
The chiefs claim that a small faction of fewer than five chiefs, including the Paramount Queenmother and certain members of the Ndweafo Royal Family, conspired to enstool Ackah as a rival Omanhene, falsely claiming to have “traditionally destooled” the sitting Paramount Chief.
A three-member committee, chaired by Awulae Hima Dekyi, Omanhene of Upper Dixcove, was constituted to hear the petition, but the petitioners later filed a Notice of Discontinuance, withdrawing the case “with liberty to reapply.” Despite this, the Queenmother and her associates went ahead to enstool Ackah.
Nana Bentum described the actions as “a travesty of justice” and called on REGSEC to act swiftly by arresting the self-styled Omanhene. “Chieftaincy matters can easily spark conflict, and the police must act now to prevent bloodshed,” he warned. “There are clear procedures in the Chieftaincy Act for enstoolment and destoolment, and no one has the right to bypass them under the guise of custom.”
The chiefs have appealed to REGSEC, the National Security Council, and the Western Regional House of Chiefs to urgently restore order and protect the sanctity of the Eastern Nzema stool.
